Vertical shelf unit



Dec. 8, 1964 D. A. GUNN VERTICAL SHELF UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. l, 1961 A fr0/eww DCC- 8, 1964 D. A. GUNN 3,160,282

VERTICAL. SHELF UNIT Filed Dec. l, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mamon DON/M0 l4. 60N/v.

Y MKM Arron/vn Dec. 8, 1964 D. A. GUNN 3,160,282

VERTICAL SHELF UNIT Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HMM IN VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent O Donald A. Gunn, Kenmore, NX., assigner to Sperry Rand Qorporation, New York, N55., Y a `corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. l, 1961i, Ser. No. ldftlfl l tlaiins. (Qi. 2li-dita) The present invention generally relates to shelf and divider units and more particularly to vertical shelf type units for holding folders and the like.

Presently used vertical shelf type units comprise a horizontal panel and a vertical rear panel with both panels having apertures therein. The apertures accommodate for entry therein lugs formed on the edges of detachable divider paners which segregate groups of lile folders, note books, drawings, envelopes, papers, or other media. Such shelf type units are standardized according to the size of the folders, etc. and in many types of business, the user will have several different size folders which must be accommodated by the shelf units. For example, the transverse or front to rear dimensions of the shelf may be used to accommodate a 15 inch folder or a 16 inch folder, etc., in which event the user will require different size shelves. ln the case of folders, very often the vertical side of the folder facing a user would have a tab or an extending portion, such as a ap, bearing indicia to identify such folder. Since the identifying indicia is in a vertical plane, however, it presents some inconvenience inasmuch as the user must look at same sideways or bend over the tabs or folder flaps to read such indicia.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vertical shelf unit of novel construction.

Another object is to provide a novel shelf file unit which is readily adaptable to accommodate folders or the like, or other media of different sizes.

Still another object is to provide a novel shelf file unit which eiects arrangement of folders or other media in a manner providing ready visual access to identifying indicia on the front edges of folders or other media.

A further object is to provide a novel shelf file unit 1 which is useable in a stationary iile unit construction or in a movable or mechanized le.

A still further object is to provide a novel shelf le unit which includes means permitting the divider panels to be arranged on the shelf in a manner other than normal to the rear panel in addition to being disposed normal to the rear panel.

The present invention contemplates a novel vertical shelf ille unit which comprises a horizontally disposed panel and a substantially vertical back panel extending at right angles to the horizontal panel. Vertical divider sheet-like panels are disposed on the shelf and secured to the horizontal and back panels. Means are provided on the horizontal and back panelsto provide for an angular disposition as well as a perpendicular disposition of the divider panels with respect to the horizontal and back panels." In a modification of the present lCe FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment ofthe vertical shelf le unit ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shelf unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the shelf of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View of the shelf;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing in particular the divider panel mounted on the shelf;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a modified Vshelf having a false back panel;

FlG. 7 is a side sectional view showing in particular the false back panel;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view looking at the top 0f the shelf which is provided with folders thereon in conventional manner;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the angular dispositionof the divider panels with folders 0r media of larger dimensions than that in FIG. 8; and

FIG. l0 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the divider panels disposed to the right.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the novel vertical shelf file unit is generally designated by the numeral 'll which comprises ra horizontally disposed panel i3 which is generally rectangular in configuration. A back panel 15 is formed integral with horizontal panel 13:l and is disposed subsubstantially vertical and at right angles to the horizontal panel. Reinforcing side walls 17 (FIGS. l, 2 and 3) are provided at either end of the panels and are suitably secured thereto as by spot welds. An upper reinforcing member 19 is provided with a box-like longitudinal extension 22 and a longitudinal recess 2li is formed in the panel l. A second box-like extension 2d is secured to the underside of panel i3. Side walls l? and box-like extensions and recess 22, 24 and 26 either provide for nesting of superposed shelf units ll or may serve as support attachments for automated or mechanized file units such as conveyor driven tile units.

Horizontal panel 13 is provided with a row of laterally spaced apertures or slots 30 which are of rectangular configuration and extend normal to the back panel 15. As best seen in FIGS. l and 2, slots 36 are spaced from an opstanding lip 32 formed at the front edge of panel i3 and from back panel l5. Panel l5 is provided with two rows of apertures or slots 3S and 4d, respectively, which extend in a direction normal to horizontal panel 1.3. It will be noted that adjacent vertical spaced slots 38 and d@ are in correspondence with a slot Eil on panel i3 whereby an imaginary plane such as indicated by the c broken line l2 (FIG. 2) contains the corresponding slots 3d, 3S and 4d and intersects the panels 13 and l5 at right angles. A plurality of vertical divider sheet-like members or panels 44, one shown in phantom in FIG. l and in FIG. 3, are adapted for detachable mounting on panels l and l5. Panels 4d are provided in their bottom edges with a mounting lug 46 and at their rear vertical edges with a pair of lugsl and Sil. As seen in the drawings,

invention, `a false back panel is provided in addition to thel back panel to accommodate either perpendicular or angular disposition of the divider panels on the shelf.

The above and other objects and 'advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way 'of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrationA purposes only and arenot to be construed as defining the limitsof the invention.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts,

folders substantially meeting'the front edge of horizontal The present invention contemplates utilization of the foregoing structure to accommodate folders of greater diinensions,y that is,'front tol back or depth, without enf" altares larging the shelf unit disclosed. In addition, the same shelf unit may be employed to provide for an inclined arrangement of the media either to the left or to the right to effect ready visual access to identifying indicia on the front edge of the media. To this end, a second row of laterally spaced apertures or slots 54 are provided on horizontal panel 13. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, slots 54 are of rectangular configuration and elongated in directions other than perpendicular to back panel 15. Slots 54 are in correspondence with a pair of vertically aligned slots 3S and 40 on panel 15 whereby such slots lie within an imaginary plane represented by the broken lines 56 (FIG. 2). Plane 56, it may be noted, intersects panel 13 at right angles and back panel 15 at an acute angle as measured between plane 56 and imaginary plane 42. With the construction just described, the divider panels 44 are arranged in planes 56 (see FIG. 2) with lugs 46 thereof disposed in slots 54 to provide an arrangement as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. Further, it will be seen that slots 54 do not have correspondence with every pair of vertical aligned slots 38 and 4@ but rather with every alternate pair thereof due to the geometry of the panels 13 and 15 and divider panels 44. In this manner, media of greater depth may be accommodated between the inclined panels 44'than with the same panels arranged perpendicular or normal to the back panel 15. For eX- ample, it has been found that shelf units which are used to accommodate folders 15 deep may also be used for filing folders 16 in depth by inclining the divider panels 44 in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

The versatility of the subject novel shelf may be further enhanced by arranging the divider panels to the right as shown in FIG. 10. This is accomplished by providing a third row of laterally spaced inclined apertures or slots V 60 in horizontal panel 13. Slots 60 in similar manner as slots 54 are interspersed alternately with respect to slots but are inclined in a direction opposite to that of slots 30. Slots 6@ also have-correspondence with pairs of vertical aligned slots 38 and 40 on panel 15 and such slots are disposed Within an imaginary plane asV represented by the broken lines 62 shownin FIG. 2. Plane 62 intersects panel 13 at right angles and panel 15 at an acute angle as measured between the plane 42 and plane 62 and all such imaginary planes 42, 56 and 62 intersect each other at the corresponding vertically aligned slots 33 and 40 in back panel 15. By arranging the divider. panels 44 in imaginary planes 62 With bottom lug 46' disposed in slots 69 and lugs 48 and 5t) in slots 38 and 40 in panel 15, an arrangement is obtained as seen in FIG. 10.

The present invention also contemplates the use of shelf 11 to accommodate folders or the like which have a top to bottom dimension greaterthan that dimension between the reinforcing member 19 and horizontal panel 13. This may be accomplished by inclining divider panels 44 in an imaginary plane which extends lnormal to back panel 15 and to horizontal panel 13 at an acute angle as measured between said imaginary plane and horizontal panel 3. The only change in shelf 11 required to effect the aforesaid inclination of the panels 44 is to transfer` the slot arrangement on panel 13 to panel 15 andthe slot arrangement on panel 15 to panel 13. In other words,

the construction of shelf 11 would be reversed with panell 13 assuming the position of panel 15 andpanel 15 assuming the position of panel 13.l This may be readily 4, As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the foregoing is accomplished by providing a false rear back panel 65 which is suitably secured to panel 13 as by threaded members 6'7 Vand to side walls 17 by threaded members 69. Slots 30, 54 and 611 remain unchanged but false panel 65 is provided with pairs of vertically aligned slots 71 and 73 in correspondence with the slots 54 and 6G, respectively. Due to the geometry of the shelf unit, including the false panel, a single pair of vertically aligned slots in the false panel, as in the case of utilizationof back panel 15 alone, is not possible. Aligned slots 71 and corresponding slots 54 lie in imaginary plane 56 and aligned slots 73 and slots 60 lie in imaginary plane 62. Thus, when the divider panels 44 are to be arranged vin a manner inclined to the left as seen in'FIG. 9, lug 46 engages slot 54 while lugs 48 and 5i) engage slots 71. On the other hand, if the divider panels 44 are to be arranged in a manner inclined to the right as seen in FIG. 10, lug 46 engages slot 60 Vwhile lugs 48 and 50 engage slots 73. It will be apparent that if it is desired to provide for perpendicular filing of folders and other media as in FIG. 8 with lesser dimensioned media, additional pairs of vertically aligned apertures or slots may be provided betweenadjacent pairs of slots 71 and 73 on false panel 65 to accommodate arrangement A arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritY visualized by rotating the'FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.1ninety, y

degrees Afrom that presently shown in the drawings.

A modification or second embodiment of the present invention lisfillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and may be utilized in those instances when it is desired to use an existinng'shelf unit which accommodates folders or other media of one dimension for vholding media of smaller dimension, whereby the front edge of the media is still maintained reasonablyfclose to the front edge of horizontal panel 13.

of divider panels perpendicular to the false panel 65.

As indicated previously, the subject shelf le unit may be incorporated in stationary les or in tiles which utilize conveyor driven shelves to bring the shelf selectively to a user. The lip 32 at the front edge of panel 13 is particularly useful in the conveyor driven les to prevent the media from moving oi the front edge of the shelf due to movement of the latter.

The term media has been used throughout'the foregoing description to designate material which may be led and it should be understood that such term will include among others, folders, note books, drawings, papers, etc.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vertical shelf tile -unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel, said shelf having a back panel extending substantially vertically and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a plurality of laterally spaced vertical divider sheet-like members on said shelf, each of said divider members arranged in planes which intersect oneV of said panels at right angles and intersect the other of said panels at' an acute angle as measured between the divider member and an imaginary plane intersecting both said panels at right angles, and means for detachably securing the divider members in said planes to both the horizontal and back panels of said "having aback` panel extending substantially vertically. and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a row of laterally spaced .iirst' apertures formed -in one of said panels, a row of laterally spaced second apertures formed m sald other paneLeach of said second apertures' in said other panel having correspondence with a first aperture and both said corresponding apertures lying within an imaginary y'vertical plane intersecting said one panel at right angles, said imaginary .plane further intersecting said one panel at an acutejangle as measured between the 'imaginary plane and a second imaginary reference plane disposed at right angles to. said panels, and a plurality of laterally spaced verticaldividerl sheet-like members, each of said divider members being arranged on said shelf and lying in thefirst imaginary plane containing 3. The Vertical shelf file unit of claim 2 wherein said one panel is provided with a row of laterally spaced third apertures, each of said third apertures being associated with and arranged adjacent an aperture of the row of first apertures and having correspondence to the second aperture on said other panel which lies in the first imaginary plane containing the associate aperture on said one panel, each of said third apertures being disposed in the reference imaginary plane with its corresponding second aperture in said other panel.

4. The vertical shelf file unit of claim 3 wherein the projections of said two imaginary planes on said one panel when joined with the projection of a third imaginary plane intersecting said one panel at right angles form a right angle triangle with the hypotenuse thereof containing the aperture on said other panel and its corresponding rst'aperture, said third imaginary plane having lying` therein an aperture of the second group and its associated first aperture and arranged parallel to said other panel.

5. In a vertical shelf file unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel, said shelf having a back panel extending substantially vertically and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a row of laterally spaced first apertures formed in one of said panels, a row of laterally spaced second apertures formed in said other panel, each of said second apertures in said other panel having correspondence with a first aperture and both said corresponding apertures lyingwithin an imaginary vertical plane intersecting said one panel at right angles, said imaginary plane further intersecting saidV other panel at an acute angle as measured between the imaginary plane and a second imaginary reference plane disposed at right angles to both said panels, a row of laterally spaced third apertures in said one panel, each of said third apertures being associated with an aperture of the first mentioned row and having correspondence to the aperture in said other panel which lies in the first mentioned imaginary plane, said third aperture and its corresponding aperture in said other panel lying in a third imaginary plane which intersects said one panel at right angles and said other panel at an acute angie as measured between the third imaginary plane and the second reference plane, and a vertical divider sheet-like member adapted to be detachably secured to the shelf, said divider member having a lug on one edge for registry with the aperture on said other panel and a second lug on an edge extending at right angles to said one edge, said second lug being in registry with either one of the apertures in the first and third row of apertures on said one panel.

6. The vertical shelf file unit of claim 5, wherein the projection of said first and third imaginary planes on said one panel when joined with the projections of a fourth imaginary plane intersecting said one panel at right angles and disposed parallel to said other panel form a triangle, the base of which triangle contains said first aperture and said third aperture.

7. The vertical shelf file unit of claim 6, wherein an aperture is provided on the horizontal panel in each second imaginary reference plane in correspondence to and associated with an aperture in the back panel and lies in the fourth imaginary plane.

8. in a vertical shelf file unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel with a front edge, said shelf having a back panel extending substantially vertically and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a row of laterally spaced elongated slots of substantially rectangular configuration formed in said back panel and extending in a direction normal to the upper and lower edges of said back panel, a second row of laterally spaced slots of rectangular configuration formed in the horizontal panel and extending in a direction other than normal to the back panel, each of said slots in the horizontal panel heilig in correspondence to and associated with a slot in said back panel, and a plurality of laterally spaced vertical divider sheet-like panels, each of said divider panels being arranged on said shelf and lying in an imaginary plane containing the corresponding slots in the horizontal and back panels, said divider panels having a lug on the bottom edge and another lug on the vertical edge in registry with the corresponding slots lon said horizontal and back panels for detachably mounting the divider panels to the shelf.

9. The vertical shelf le unit of claim 8 wherein another and third row of laterally spaced slots of elongated configuration are formed in the horizontal panel, each of said slots of said third row arranged in directions normal to the back panel and in an imaginary plane which contains a corresponding slot in said bach panel and which intersects both the horizontal and back panels at right angles.

l0. The vertical shelf file unit of claim 8 wherein each of the slots of said third row extend in a direction other than normal to the back panel and in a plane which intersects a plane containing a slot of the first row and the corresponding slot in the back panel.

ll. In a vertical shelf file unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel with a front edge, said shelf having a back panel extending substantially vertically and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a first group of laterally spaced slots of rectangular configuration Vformed in said horizontal panel and extending normal to the back panel, a second group of laterally spaced slots of rectangular configuration formed in the back panel and extending normal to the horizontal panel, each of said slots of said second group being in alignment with a slot of the first group, a third group of elongated slots of rectangular configuration formed in said horizontal panel and interspersed with the slots of the first group with each pair of slots of the first group containing therebetween a slot of said third group, the slots of said third group being inclined in a direction other than normal to the back panel with the slots of the third group between adjacent pairs of slots of the first group inclined in opposite directions, and a plurality of Vertical divider sheetlike panels each having a lug on a rear vertical edge for insertion in a slot on the back pmel and a lug on a bottom edge for insertion into any of the slots in the horizontal panel.

l2. In a vertical shelf file unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel with a front edge, said shelf having a back panel extending substantially vertically and at right angles tothe horizontal panel, a first pair of adjacent apertures formed in the back panel and spaced between the upper and lower edges of said back panel, a second pair of apertures formed' in said horizontal panel with one aperture of said second pair of apertures having correspondence with one aperture of said first pair of apertures on the back panel and the other aperture of said second pair having correspondence with the other aperture of said first pair, said one aperture of the first and second pairs lying within a first imaginary plane intersecting said horizontal panel at right angles and said back panel at an acute angle as measured between the first imginary plane and a second reference imaginary plne disposed at right angles to both said horizontal and baclr panels, said other apertures of the first and second pairs lying within a third imaginary plane intersecting said horizontal panel at right angles and said back panel at an acute angle as measured between the third imaginary planeand the second reference plane, and a vertical divider sheet-lihe panel fordetachable mounting on said shelf having a lug on a rear vertical edge for insertion into either of said first pair of apertures and a lug on the bottom edge for insertion into either of said second pair of apertures.

l3. The vertical shelf type unit of claim l2, wherein the back panel consists of a false panel, and a rear panel is provided behind the false panel and in spaced relationship therewith.

14. In a vertical shelf file unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel with a front edge, said shelf having a back panel extending substantially vertically and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a first pair of laterally spaced and adjacent slots of rectangular configuration formed in the back panel and extending normal to the horizontal panel, a second pair of slots formed in said horizontal panel of rectangular coniiguration, said slots of the second pair being inclined in directions other than normal to the back panel and in directions opposite to one another, ,and a vertical divider sheet-like panel for detachably mounting on said shelf having a lug on a rear Vertical edge for insertion into either yof said first pair of slots and a vlug on the bottom edge for insertion into either of said second pair of slots.

15. In a vertical shelf unit of the class described, a shelf having a horizontally disposed panel With a front edge, said shelf having a rear panel extending substantially vertical and at right angles to the horizontal panel, a false rear vertical panel spaced from the rear panel in the direction of the front edge of said horizontal panel and extending at right angles to the latter, a slot of rectangular `coniiguration formed in the rear panel and extending in a direction normal to the horizontal panel, a pair of spaced second slots of rectangular conguratiion formed in the false rear panel and arranged to either side of the first mentioned slot in the rear panel, a third slot of rectangular configuration formed in the horizontal panel extending in Ya direction normal to the rear panel and in alignment therewith, a pal-ir of fourth slots of rectangular conguration formed in the horizontal panel on either side of said third slot, said fourth slots extending in directions other v than normal to the false rear panel and inclined in directions opposite to each other, one of said fourth slots being in correspondence With one of said second slots on the false rear panel -and the other of said fourth slots being in correspondence with the other of said second slots, said one second and fourth slots lying Within an imaginary plane intersecting the horizontal panel at right angles and intersecting said false rear panel at an acute angle and said other second and fourth slots lying Within an imaginary References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V 1,491,183 Anschell Apr. 22, 1924 2,456,481 Ballantyne et al Dec. 14, 1948 2,889,055 Weller et al June 2, 1959 2,905,336 Higberg Sept. 22, 1959 2,974,863 Humphrey Mar. 14, 1961 

1. IN A VERTICAL SHELF FILE UNIT OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A SHELF HAVING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED PANEL, SAID SHELF HAVING A BACK PANEL EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY AND AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE HORIZONTAL PANEL, A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED VERTICAL DIVIDER SHEET-LIKE MEMBERS ON SAID SHELF, EACH OF SAID DIVIDER MEMBERS ARRANGED IN PLANES WHICH INTERSECT ONE OF SAID PANELS AT RIGHT ANGLES AND INTERSECT THE OTHER OF SAID PANELS AT AN ACUTE ANGLE AS MEASURED BETWEEN THE DIVIDER MEMBER AND AN IMAGINARY PLANE INTERSECTING BOTH SAID PANELS AT RIGHT ANGLES, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE DIVIDER MEMBERS IN 